Introducing Neuro-Semantics

Not Quite Everything About Everything
You Want to Know About the New Field of — Neuro-Semantics®
L. Michael Hall, Ph.D.
We first introduced the new cutting-edge field of Neuro-Semantics in our book Mind-Lines: Lines that Change Minds (1997). Since then we have also published other works in this field of Neuro-Semantics. These include Figuring Out People: Design Engineering Using Meta-Programs (1998), Time-Lining: Patterns for Adventuring in Time (1998), and The Secrets of Magic (1998). 
In 1999 we first brought out pieces to highlight and distinguish Neuro-Semantics from NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and GS (General Semantics). The most radical and revolutionary of is the work regarding the so-called "submodality" model. 
Since we have had many questions about this new field, this paper will utilize the following questions that we most frequently hear people ask to navigate our way through the process of setting off the distinctive features of Neuro-Semantics. I have written this with the invaluable help of my colleague, Bob Bodenhamer. 
•	What is Neuro-Semantics & where did it come from? 
•	How does Neuro-Semantics differ from Neuro-Linguistic Programming? 
•	How does Neuro-Semantics differ from General Semantics? 
•	What uniquely distinguishes this new field? 
•	What central principles govern this domain? 
•	What is The Institute of Neuro-Semantics®? 
•	Who are the principal players in the Institutes of Neuro-Semantics? 
•	What is their agenda, motivation, and intentions? 
What is Neuro-Semantics & Where did it Come From?
Neuro-Semantics began in 1997 as the brain-child of Michael Hall and Bobby Bodenhamer as we engaged in various conversations about Meta-States, NLP, and General Semantics. Out of those conversations we wrote several articles regarding the current state of affairs in NLP. The first one we entitled, "The Downside of NLP." This article, as well as some follow up articles about the state of disarray, bad P.R., the Bandler lawsuit, the over-emphasis and vague emphasis on "installing learnings unconsciously," etc. were published in Anchor Point. Nelson Penaylillo (NLP Trainer in Australia), Peter Kean (NLP Trainer, Washington DC), and Robert Olic (NLP Trainer, Philadelphia, PA) were the first to thereafter joined in the conversation.
In extending, expanding, and enriching both NLP and GS, we (Hall and Bodenhamer) first sought simply to unite and synthesize the best pieces from Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and General Semantics. Our passion was to get more credibility and validity for the field that seemed so disorganized and torn by competition in the USA. Simultaneously, we were developing numerous new patterns using the Meta-States Model. This was beginning to revolutionize things and it was Dr. Bodenhamer who first saw this vision in the Meta-States model. Consequently we choose the term Neuro-Semantics to designate the new enriched field. 
Now the term Neuro-Semantics goes back to Alfred Korzybski. The father of General Semantics introduced both phrases, "neuro-linguistic" and "neuro-semantic," in 1936 in some of his papers. Later, they showed up in his 1941 Preface to his classic work, Science and Sanity. In Korzybski’s writings, you will find both terms used pretty much synonymously. Here, however, following the Meta-States Model®, we have arbitrary chosen to use Neuro-Linguistics to refer to the Modeling, Methodology, and Technology that has grown out of the field of NLP and Neuro-Semantics to refer to the newer and more extensive Modeling, Patterning, Methodology, and Technology that has resulted from the Meta-States Model. In the next section you will find a fuller discrimination between NLP and Neuro-Semantics.
How does Neuro-Semantics differ from Neuro-Linguistic Programming?
NLP emerged as a happen-chance from a modeling project of Fritz Perls and Virginia Satir. This happened as the young college student, Richard Bandler, discovered his genius of imitation of their language patterns. Linguistics Professor, John Grinder, began working with Richard to model the structure of the therapeutic wizards. This brought them into relationship with Dr. Robert Spitzer, who became their first publisher (Science and Behavior Books). And that, in turn, led to their association with the genius of Gregory Bateson (anthropologist, linguist, cybernetician) when Spitzer moved them onto his property. They became neighbors of Bateson. And that connection, in turn, then led them to Milton Erickson and hypnosis.
Using the new formulations of the then-emerging Cognitive Psychology Models, Bandler and Grinder tapped into the elegance of the TOTE Model of Miller, Galanter, and Pribram. This gave them a linear way to track the processes within "the black box" that Behaviorism had always avoided. Out of this came the NLP Strategy Model— a Model for Modeling Excellence. This model primarily operates like a flow chart of consciousness, tracking "mind" linearly. In Neuro-Semantics, we add the vertical dimension and so tease out the hidden meta-levels within the structure of subjectivity.
In the beginning, NLP sought to avoid all theory, explanatory models, and "the why" question by presenting itself as strictly focused on how do you do that? Accordingly, NLP arose first and foremost as a Communication Model. It explored how the body (Neuro, e.g. the nervous system, physiology, neurology, etc.) gets Programmed by the use of various Languages (linguistics). 
By way of contrast, Neuro-Semantics goes beyond the linear "flow chart" analysis of the Structure of Subjective Experience by focusing more fully on the Meta-Levels that support and drive the movement of consciousness along its TOTEs. By tracking the vertical dimensions of human processing, it moves into higher level Meanings much more fully. Accordingly, it tracks and models the neuro-semantic structures of meanings at higher (and typically, unconscious) levels.
Both Neuro-Semantics and NLP operate as interdisciplinary approaches, utilizing models from many psychologies. This includes cybernetics, computer science, neuro-biology, family systems, anthropology, etc.
Neuro-Semantics highlights much more fully and extensively the existence of multiple meta-levels and logical levels than does NLP. Korzybski (1933/1994) labeled the higher level abstractions as "second order" and "third order" abstractions. He suggested that much study and exploration needs to be done in this area of reflexivity about how we evaluate and then evaluate our evaluations and by that create higher levels of "mind."
Bateson (1972) picked up on this in how he used meta-levels and logical types in his theories of schizophrenia, play, humor, aesthetics, etc. He and the Mental Research Institute (MRI) in Palo Alto laid so much of the foundation for NLP (especially in the 1974 book, Change by Watzlawick, Weakland, & Fisch).
NLP, as a meta-discipline itself, certainly has meta-levels (the Meta-Model, Meta-Programs). And co-developer, Robert Dilts has contributed numerous meta-level models. But nowhere in NLP had a fully descriptive and comprehensive model about Meta-Levels emerged until the development of the Meta-States® Model (Hall 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998). This was recognized by the International NLP Trainer’s Association in 1995 in their award for Meta-States as "the most significant contribution to NLP in 1994—1995."
In many ways, the Meta-States Model has turned NLP upside down. And it has done so in such a simple way. By merely changing the operational metaphor of "depth" inherited from Transformational Grammar, and adopting the "height" metaphor, Meta-States reformulated NLP. Dr. Graham Dawes noted this in his early reviews of Meta-States and Dragon Slaying commenting that Meta-States will be the model that "ate NLP." Others have commented that Meta-States outframes NLP as it sets up higher frames for the processes of NLP. If this sounds like we think Neuro-Semantics will replace NLP, we would like to add that we see it in a different function, namely, as extending, continuing, and evolving the development that began with Korzybski, Bateson, Bandler, Grinder, Dilts, etc. 
In the Meta-States Model, the nature of self-reflexivity has finally been given its full due. In this way, the model provides a way to track thoughts-about-thoughts, feelings-about-feelings, as our inevitable and inescapable meta-thinking, meta-feeling, and meta-responding generates layers upon layers of cognition. This flexible model provides a way to identify the ever-changing hierarchy of human consciousness, without becoming a rigid way. The levels themselves shift and change. And true enough, while this makes for seeming complexity in human "mind" and experience, the ordering of the Meta-Level Principles formats and structures that complexity. This means that the plastic and flexible nature of meta-levels whereby any thought can reflect back onto itself or onto another thought at any level does not have to create confusion or chaos. We can track it. We can model it as a system.
While the recursive nature of thought-feeling does create complexity, it does not create chaos. Systemic complexity contains structure. So even though it may at first appear as the complexity of chaos, with a meta-level model like Meta-States we can easily discover an ordering at a higher level. And as this distinguishes different levels of "thought"— this provides a new and profound understanding in NLP. We have designated this as the beginning of Neuro-Semantics. This Meta-Level Model thus provides a way of distinguishing such mental phenomena as: 
•	Beliefs — Validated Thoughts-about-Thoughts 
•	Values — Valued Thoughts-about-Thoughts 
•	Understandings— Extensive systems of Thoughts-about-Thoughts 
•	Decisions — Choiced Thoughts-about-Thoughts 
•	Identity — Beliefs about Thoughts-about-"Self" Concepts 
•	Concepts — Extensive (simple or complex) Understandings about Domains of Understandings 
•	Categories — conceptual sorting of Concepts 
•	Reasons —higher level structures used as explanatory constructs 
•	Etc. 
As an aside, I should here mention the extreme limitation of the term "thought." By itself, the term reflects a very limited, Aristotelian, and primitive term—an Elementalism. Using the principles of General Semantics, we know that "thought" includes "emotion," hence the awkward yet more sane mapping of "thought-feeling." So to use "thought" sanely we have to do so from a non-elementalistic perspective. For people in NLP, this provides a new piece straight from GS that was not in the original Meta-Model. You will find it in the expanded Meta-Model in The Secrets of Magic. 
With the systemic nature of self-reflexive thought-feeling looping recursively back onto itself creating layers of consciousness and the higher level structures (the "mental" phenomena), we have states-about-states or Meta-States. This sets up systemic processing. It generates logical levels in our "thinking-emoting." It sets up attractors in a self-organizing system. And these run by certain higher level principles— all articulated as the Meta-Stating Principles.
Now we can begin to sort out different kinds of meanings. We can sort out linkage "meaning," previously known as Pavlovian conditioning or Associative Meanings. It goes further. It introduces Contextual Meanings— the meanings that arise from higher mental contexts. These higher level abstractions of "meanings" into which we categorize and attribute significance to things thereby generates our Semantic or Conceptual States. And with this, we introduce yet another new distinction in NLP.
I trust that by now you can recognize that in these ways, Neuro-Semantics incorporates higher level "meanings" into the structure of subjectivity. Our "states" involve the primary level neuro-linguistic thoughts-and-feelings in response to something out there in the world. That defines a Primary State. A Meta-State involves more. It involves our thoughts-feeling about our thoughts, emotions, states, memories, imaginations, concepts, etc. It involves our meta-responses to previous responses. 
There is a lot more to Neuro-Semantics than this (and more being developed every week), but this does begin to offer a set of distinctions. In summary, notice the following chart.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming	Neuro-Semantics	

	
Linear Processing of the Structure of Experience	Meta-Level Processing	
TOTE Strategy Analysis	Vertical Logical Levels Analysis	
Linear Flow Chart Tracking Consciousness	Recursiveness/ Reflexivity	
Separate Models for various meta-phenomena
(i.e. Values, Beliefs, etc.) 	Systemic & Holistic Model embracing all of the Meta-Phenomena 	
Confusion of All "States" as the Same	Distinction between Primary States, Meta-States, Gestalt States	
Lack of how Meta-Model & Meta-Programs Relate & Interface	Clarification about the three Meta-Domains as Interactive & Redundant — The Systemic 3 Model. 	
"Sleight of Mouth" Patterns	Mind-Lines— Conversational Reframing ordered in a logical level format that includes deframing, reframing, outframing, etc.	
Confusion of Orientational Metaphor— up and down: depth (core) and height	Clarity about the Orientational Metaphors— 	
"Submodalities" — Patterns, Technologies, etc.	Recognition of the representational distinctions as actually Meta-Modalities 
Introduction of Meta-Detailing as the heart of genius
Meta-Programs revitalized as early formations of Meta-States Canopies of Consciousness and Attractors of Self-Organizing Systems	
How does Neuro-Semantics differ from General Semantics?
General Semantics began with Alfred Korzybski (1933) and continues today as a viable discipline and field in its own right. As an engineer, Korzybski sought to redesign the old Aristotelian language as our primary way of mapping the territory. He wanted to do this to increase our ability at effective adjustment to increase humanity’s sanity. The old mapping involved several unsane factors: identification, elementalism, confusion of levels, etc.
NLP brought over many of the features of General Semantics into its Meta-Model of language. More recently, we have identified many of the Korzybskian linguistic distinctions not brought over and have added them to the Meta-Model (Hall, Secrets of Magic, 1998).
Neuro-Semantics differs from General Semantics by its NLP emphasis on modeling excellence and designing patterns, technologies, and new methodologies for human design engineering (a phrase, by the way, originated by Korzybski, 1921). In Neuro-Semantics we have begun to create a Merging of the Models (NLP and GS). What we began in November 1998 in London as a three-day training program under the title, The Merging of the Models, will eventually result in a second modeling — or Engineering Training using other as-of-yet unmined treasures of Korzybski.
What Uniquely Distinguishes this new field?
Neuro-Semantics stands out as both "enriched" NLP and "enriched" General Semantics. Returning to the sources of NLP, General Semantics, Bateson’s works in anthropology, schizophrenia, Levels of Learning, and cybernetics, MRI Institute, Cognitive Psychology (Miller, Galanter, Pribram), etc., we have sought to establish Neuro-Semantics on solid, scientific, and highly researched studies.
NLP, for a variety of reasons, has seemed to have received lots of negative and harmful Public Relations and General Semantics has seemed to locate itself in a small and isolated community. For these (and other reasons), we have sought to step aside just enough from NLP and GS so that we can both continue the adventure of modeling and engineering human excellence but not tied down to the limitations of the two source disciplines. 
I should mention here that we in the Institute of Neuro-Semantics are not the only ones who have been moving in this direction. Canadian Dennis Chong, M.D. and Roye Fraser of Blue Dell Systems, both NLP trainers, have in recent years written about Neuro-Semantic Programming (NSP). As noted on our web site (www.neurosemantics.com), Dr. Chong has written several books mentioned NSP, Don’t Ask Why, Language Elegance, and Knife Without Pain. While we have some differences with these gentlemen, the basic thrust and emphasis corresponds to an amazing degree.
Neuro-Semantics has also found new life and excitement in Chaos theory, Self-Organization Theory, the newer developments in Cognitive Psychology, Performance Coaching, Brief Psychotherapy, REBT, Glasser’s Reality Therapy/ Control Theory, and many other fields.
What Central Principles govern this domain?
First and foremost of the principles that govern Neuro-Semantics is the Bateson principle that "The higher levels govern (modulate, drive, organize) the lower levels." Meta-levels serve as the frame-of-reference for the activity (thinking, feeling, responding) that occurs at the levels lower to the frame. The meta-level thus operates as an attractor in a self-organizing system. From this we have identified numerous other principles. 
Someone (or something) will always set the frame of reference. The question becomes, "Who set the frame?" Count on your Meta-State becoming your unconscious frames— your "way of being in the world," your attitude.
Whoever sets the frame will govern the experience (run the game!). Since higher frames govern—and since somebody also sets it, the person who sets the frame thereby takes charge of the subsequent experiences. The resulting thoughts, ideas, concepts, beliefs, emotions, behaviors, language, problems, solutions, and experiences derive their existence from the frame. Frames govern. 
The whole determines the parts and from the parts, the whole emerges. This speaks about the systemic nature of the mind-body system. It speaks about the gestalt nature of our neuro-linguistics processes. The system that emerges from the meta-levels that govern the lower levels brings about an overall gestalt (or configuration of interactive parts) which in turn, define the character of the whole.
In outframing, we set up a higher level frame-of-reference that will take over. The power to identify a frame enables us to step aside from a frame and to set a whole new frame. Doing this transforms everything. It performs meta-level "magic" in that it installs a new self-organizing attractor at the top of the semantic system.
What we call "experience" differs radically and significantly at each level. Korzbyski described these in his "levels of abstraction" model regarding how the nervous system abstracts at different levels. We can use the same word/s at the different levels as multiordinal terms —terms that have no specific meaning until we specify at which level we refer. 
Reflexivity endows consciousness with systemic processes and characteristics. Reflexivity describes the mechanism that drives these levels of abstraction and these meta-level experience. This refers to the fact that our consciousness can reflect back onto itself or its products (thoughts, emotions, beliefs, values, decisions, specific concepts, etc.). As it does, it sets up feed-back and feed-forward processes and thereby creates a circular system.
Meta-level disorientation and conflict can create living hells. Generally speaking (numerous exceptions do exist), whenever we bring negative thoughts-and-feelings (states) against ourselves or any facet of ourselves, we put ourselves at odds with ourselves. And when our self-relationships (relation to ourselves) become disturbed, we begin to loop around in vicious downward self-reinforcing cycles. And when self-disturbed (self-condemning, self-contempting, self-repressing, self-hating, etc.), this then creates a disturbance for all of our relationships with others. This creates neurosis, psychosis, personality disorders, character disorders, etc.
Paradox frequently governs meta-level solutions for health, integration, balance, and empowerment. The only way to rid ourselves of unwanted thoughts, emotions, behaviors, habits, etc. involves, paradoxically, welcoming, accepting, appreciating, and celebrating that very thought, emotion, behavior, etc. By welcoming it into consciousness we can take counsel of it, reality check it, learn from it, etc. To not reckon with it leads to unuseful suppression, repression, self-rejection, etc.
Setting a frame necessitates neuro-linguistic energy & repetition. How do we actually set a frame or establish a meta-level State? Merely "thinking" or even "feeling" will not do it. We can think, know, feel, and have awarenesses that do not establish a higher level frame-of-reference. Here we need to utilize the natural processes of how our brains operate—we need to use drama, energy, repetition, etc.
Altering higher level frames alters Identity and Destiny. You can’t change what you do (so that it lasts in a pervasive and generative way), without also changing who you are. Does your higher frame of self-definition support the change? Your behavior is like a printout of your Operating Programs.
What are some of the New Techniques & Patterns that have already emerged from Neuro-Semantics?
At this point in time we have not made a full account of the scores of pattens and technologies that have arisen. Every month in Meta-States Journal we have published at least one new or adapted pattern. There you will find more than twenty fully described patterns. (We also have most of those in outline form in Secrets of Meta-States, the Training Manual). You can locate 16 new Time-Lining Patterns in the book by that title, and technologies in the remaking of Meta-Programs (Figuring Out People). 
•	Conceptual Positions (the Perceptual Positions reformatted as a Logical Level System and incorporating Semantics. 
•	Meta-Yesing: A Ten-Minute Belief Change Pattern. 
•	Inserting Resources Pattern 
•	Meta-Detailing: The heart of Genius (see Meta-Stating Genius) 
•	Modeling with Meta-Levels (see NLP: Going Meta) 
What is The Institute of Neuro-Semantics®?
Who are the Principal Players in the Institutes of Neuro-Semantics?
It began when Michael Hall and Bob Bodenhamer filled for trademarks for Neuro-Semantics and Meta-States in 1997. The Registration of the Trademarks were finally obtained in 1998 (Registration numbers: 2,210,336 and 2,199,913). During this time, Dr. Bodenhamer established The First Institute of Neuro-Semantics in Gastonia NC. Later, Robert Olic (Olic Performance Seminars) began sponsoring Neuro-Semantic Trainings by Michael Hall on the east coast. 
Since that time, The Institute of Neuro-Semantics has established two Web Sites, and has begun to align with other promoters and trainers (Cynthia Tuma, Houston, Evergreen Educational; Ginia Polygos, Logos Development Group, Charlotte, NC; Dr. Philip Nolan and Denis Bridoux, Post Graduate Professional Training in the UK).
We established Meta-States Journal in 1997 as a monthly publication for Neuro-Semantics. It promotes and markets much of the current research and discoveries, training schedules, responses from around the world, and much more. 
E.T. Publications has become one of the facets of Neuro-Semantics as we have continue to seek to publish and promote products. 
We have also created a Web Site at http://www.neurosemantics.com. Dr. Bodenhamer constantly updates this site monthly with articles and techniques from several authors. He does this to offer the new developments in Neuro-Semantics and to create a forum for feedback.
What is the Agenda, Motivation, and Intentions of those Associated with Neuro-Semantics?
The purpose (agenda and motivation) of The Institute of Neuro-Semantics is to continue the exciting research and modeling into the adventure of human design engineering using the tools of General Semantics, NLP, and Meta-States. 
The design of this? To Engineer Human Excellence by modeling the best, by identifying the structure of Excellence, and by designing afresh new forms of human excellence in all fields.
And the meta-outcome of that? To enable people to find, discover, and actualize their best — to consciously enter into more experiences of Flow (Czikszentmihalyi), Positive Addiction (Glasser), Genius (Bandler, Grinder, Dilts, etc.), to empower people to run their own brains and to manage their meta-minds, and to achieve high performance whether it be in career, relationships, personal development, spirituality, health, or whatever.
Historical Development of the Meta-States Model 
(Compiled by Denis Bridoux, NLP Trainer with Post-Graduate Professional Education, Harragate, England)
1933: Alfred Korzybski coined the phrase neuro-linguistic training, postulated his theory of the levels of abstraction, constructed his theory of second-order abstractions, third-order, etc. in his classic word Science and Sanity.
1972: Gregory Bateson’s classic work Steps to an Ecology of Mind that brought together all his revolutionary studies on double-bind theory, applications of Logical Theory of Types, going meta to meta-levels, the levels of Learning Model, etc.
1975-1983: John Grinder & Richard Bandler utilizing the idea of going meta in their NLP model beginning with the Meta-model—an explicit model about how language and VAK representations work in human experience. They distinguish sensory-based level from the evaluative level, the importance of meta-parts, and the strategy model for modeling "the structure of subjective experience."
1994: Michael Hall specifies how meta-levels of mind-body neuro-linguistic states factor into the structure of subjective experience and bring over Korzybski and Bateson ideas into the strategy model. This arose from modeling resilience and discovering that within it people have embedded numerous layers and levels of consciousness and states. Awareness by the International Trainers Association of NLP (1995) for the most significant contribution to NLP during 1994-1995.
ANNOUNCING THE LAUNCHING OF-
THE SOCIETY OF NEURO-SEMANTICS
With the completion of the very first Meta-States® and Neuro-Semantics® Certification Training in Clearwater Florida, we have officially launched THE SOCIETY OF NEURO-SEMANTICS. The first members of the Society consist of those who have just graduated from this intensive 7-day Certification program.
What is the Society?
The Society of Neuro-Semantics is a non-profit organization, incorporated in the State of Colorado and operates as the larger umbrella for the specific business Institutes of Neuro-Semantics—
•	The First Institute in Gastonia, NC under the direction of Dr. Bobby Bodenhamer 
•	Other institutes in the UK, Denmark, and Guatemala are now being developed. 
The society will have several levels of membership: Basic, Advanced, Certified, Institute, Trainers, etc.
•	Basic Membership ($45 USA, and $55 International, annually), members will receive the Journal of the Society as well as 10% discount on all products and trainings. 
•	Advanced membership ($75 annually) will receive the Journal, and 20% off all products and trainings. 
•	Certified ($55 annually) is for those who have received Meta-States Certification, will receive 20% off all products and trainings, and will be added to the Society’s recognized list of Certified Members. 
•	Institute membership ($1000 Modeling/Coaching fee): establishes a business relationship with an individual/center as governed by the Institute contract/agreement. With this membership, the individual or center can promote, sponsor Meta-States & Neuro-Semantic Certification Trainings to be conducted by a Certified Trainer of the Institute. 
•	Trainer membership ($200 annually): entitle the trainer to attend any of the Meta-States Training at no additional cost. This is for those who have completed the 7-Day MS & NS Certification Training, and the 5-Day Trainer’s Training, and empowered to train and certify in the Basic Meta-States Model, as well as in any Applied Meta-States Training(s) which they have taken. 
Mission Statement
Neuro-Semantics, using the Meta-States Model, operates as an advanced development of NLP, as well a synthesis from General Semantics and NLP. This model primarily seeks to promote the exploration and modeling of human experiences in order to present the strategy of excellence.
As a Society of Explorers, we seek to establish a positive presence of respect, cooperation, and congruence in this presentation. In the ongoing modeling of excellence, we seek to do so as a Win/Win Community based upon cooperation not competition, abundance not scarcity, respect not arrogance, and ongoing research and development, not dogmatism or lack of intellectual rigor.
THE FIRST GRADUATES OF NEURO-SEMANTICISTS
With the completion of the Meta-States and Neuro-Semantic Certification Training in Florida and the launching of the Society of Neuro-Semantics, we now have our first group of graduates—men and women thoroughly trained in the Meta-States Model —as a Model. This means that they have been completely initiated and certified as competent and skilled in the first facets that comprise any model or system:
1. THE THEORY: the theoretical background, foundation, hypothesis, etc. that offers an explanatory model for how the model or system works, the governing ideas and how to test and refine the ideas in order to create new applications.
2. THE VARIABLES AND ELEMENTS: the pieces and parts that go into making up the model—all of the necessary and sufficient elements that comprise the unique and absolutely necessary features.
3. THE GUIDING OPERATIONAL PRINCIPLES: the "laws" or principles (presuppositions) that define and articulate the mechanisms that make it work and how to use them in a methodological, systematic, and systemic way. This gives one the ability to keep refining the model.
4. THE TECHNOLOGIES: the specific tools that provide immediate application for using the Model or System to achieve something.
Bob Bodenhamer, Robert Olic, and I are happy to announce and present the 14 graduates as the first members of the Society of Neuro-Semantics. We're delighted to hear the graduates speak about how Neuro-Semantics and Meta-States has given them even higher State Management Skills for running their own brain and developing their own personal genius than ever before. The Modeling Skills and understandings enabled every single Certificant to engage in design engineering new processes and to invent several new Meta-Stating Processes. These will be published in The Journal of the Society of Neuro-Semantics beginning in January, 2000. 
We have designed the Society of Neuro-Semantics to be a community that people want to join and be a part of as we move into the new Century and Millennium with one primary objective— to model human excellence so that we can promote much greater Science and Sanity. In doing that, we want to build a community of thinkers, dreamers, researchers, practitioners, and geniuses who are—
•	Congruent and who have high level Personal Integrity 
•	Highly Skilled and Competent in the Model as a Model 
•	Think and act in a Win/Win Cooperative way with others truly believing in Abundance 
•	Passionate about Achievements & Compassionate with Persons 
•	Empowered to Walk their Talk 
I really appreciate and agree with the evaluation that Peter Maxwell wrote. He said that "they have achieved world-class status." We now have two NLP Training Centers in the UK who are also Institutes of Neuro-Semantics, soon Steen Jenson will have the first in Denmark, and Sam Feterman will establish the Institute of Neuro-Semantics in Guatemala. And so the adventure has begun...
And, of course, we’d love you to come and enjoy the Exploration, the Community, and the Fun.
Additional Recommended Reading: Dimensions of Modeling: How Modeling Evolves from Strategies - Neuro-Semantics Series and "How Meta-States Enriches Logical Levels in NLP."
L. Michael Hall, Ph.D.
Important Links About the INS	
The Vision Statement for the Institute of Neuro-Semantics 	
Subscribe to the Journal of the Society of Neuro-Semantics.	
Would you like to join the Society of Neuro-Semantics®?